CVE-2018-25091 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE involves the lack of implementation of removing the authorization HTTP header in urllib3, potentially leading to unauthorized hosts accessing credentials.

Understanding CVE-2018-25091

This vulnerability poses a risk of exposing sensitive credentials due to incomplete resolution of a previous CVE.

What is CVE-2018-25091?

The absence of removing the authorization HTTP header in urllib3 before version 1.24.2 during cross-origin redirects can allow unauthorized hosts to access credentials or transmit them without encryption.

The Impact of CVE-2018-25091

The vulnerability can result in unauthorized access to sensitive information, compromising the security of systems using urllib3.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-25091

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from the failure to remove the authorization HTTP header in urllib3, potentially exposing credentials during cross-origin redirects.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: n/a
Product: n/a
Versions: All versions prior to 1.24.2 are affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

Unauthorized hosts can exploit this vulnerability during cross-origin redirects to gain access to credentials or intercept them without encryption.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-25091 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Upgrade urllib3 to version 1.24.2 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Monitor network traffic for any unauthorized access attempts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement strict access control measures to restrict unauthorized access to sensitive information.
Regularly update and patch software components to address known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates to prevent exploitation of vulnerabilities like CVE-2018-25091.